When Ivan Skoko heard scream through the evening air at Borough Underground station on October 28, he knew something was terribly wrong.
The Croatian-born champion had just finished his training session in Elephant Park and was traveling on the Northern line when chaos erupted at the south London station around 7:30 p.m. A 14-year-old girl had been assaulted, and the situation was rapidly escalating.
“I was thinking someone got stabbed or something happened,”
Skoko recalled of the initial moments. His years of martial arts discipline kicked in immediately as he assessed the unfolding crisis.
After confirming the identity of the suspect with witnesses, Skoko sprang into action with decisive precision.
“I opened the doors, jumped off the train, and in five seconds I took the guy down and said, ‘Do not move,'”
he explained. The champion (who captured gold in the men’s ultra-heavy category at the British Open earlier this year) employed a judo foot sweep technique after observing the suspect reaching toward his pocket, a movement that suggested potential danger.
Video footage from the scene shows Skoko maintaining complete control of the situation. The subdued suspect can be heard saying,
“I don’t want to stab you, bro”
as he lies beneath the athlete’s knee (words that underscore just how dangerous the encounter could have become).
Skoko‘s tactical awareness extended beyond the immediate confrontation.
“I actually moved towards the wall, so that we could stay safe on the platform and avoid falling into the rails,”
he said, demonstrating his consciousness of the perilous environment surrounding London Underground platforms.
The wait for authorities tested Skoko‘s patience and control. British Transport Police arrived approximately 25 minutes later, during which time the black belt maintained his composed restraint of the suspect. When officers finally arrived, they discovered two smartphones (one with a distinctive Hello Kitty case) and a rusty claw hammer concealed in the suspect’s clothing. The man, in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of an offensive weapon and handling stolen goods.
For Skoko, stepping in wasn’t about seeking attention or playing hero.
“It was a natural reaction to defend women, children, and elderly people”
he explained.
The martial artist’s vigilance has been shaped by both his training and past experiences. Five years ago, when his bicycle was taken, the response he received from authorities left him disillusioned.
“I called the police and they said ‘unfortunately you’ll never see your bike again,'”
he remembered.
“They said: ‘Sir, we don’t have enough resources’. With all the money we pay for tax, they don’t have resources.”
That incident, he said, was
“the first and the last time I called the police”
and motivated him to intensify his martial arts training. It also made him acutely aware of the brief window that exists when incidents occur in public spaces.
“I see these robberies every day outside the gym where I work and I know if you don’t react quick, these guys will get away,”
Skoko explained. His gym is situated in an area where such incidents are unfortunately common, giving him firsthand perspective on the challenges facing London’s communities.
Remarkably, Skoko estimates this was at least the tenth time he’s confronted suspected individuals. However, he’s careful to emphasize that his interventions are calculated assessments rather than reckless acts.
“I was controlling the situation physically and verbally at all time without using any unncessesary use of force,”
he said, noting that he remained calm throughout the encounter and wasn’t paralyzed by potential danger.
The athlete now advocates for widespread martial arts training as a form of community empowerment and protection. He believes combat sports training should be more commonplace, enabling responsible citizens to safely intervene when witnessing incidents against vulnerable members of society.
“If I have 10 of my friends around me, the whole neighbourhood is safe wherever we go, we will keep arresting these gentlemen if they keep doing things like this,”
he said, articulating a vision of community-based safety that doesn’t rely solely on overstretched law enforcement resources.
British Transport Police confirmed their response to the incident and stated that inquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information about the October 28 assault is asked to contact British Transport Police.
For Skoko, who immigrated from Croatia and now teaches martial arts in London, the incident reinforces fundamental beliefs about personal responsibility and community safety.
His message resonates beyond the martial arts community: proper training can empower ordinary citizens to protect themselves and others during those critical moments when help hasn’t yet arrived.
